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This test consists of 5 short answer questions, 10 short essay questions, and 1 (of 3) essay topics.

Short Answer Questions

1. Where does Joncour say the eggs hatched on his return fourth trip from Japan?

2. What does Joncour notice when his wife comes to kiss him goodnight?

3. What activities do Helene and Joncour do while staying at the villa?

4. When, according to Joncour, should birds be released from an aviary?

5. What does Joncour offer Hara Kei when he catches up to him on the fourth trip?

Short Essay Questions

1. On the fourth trip to Japan, when Joncour offers gold to Hara Kei, what is he buying?

2. When the young boy is hanged, why does Hara Kei say the boy was the message of love? What does he mean by that? Does this have anything to do with the boy's happy disposition? What?

3. Why does Joncour sit by the lake on windy days after the death of his wife? Has the meaning of the ripples on the water changed for him?

4. Why does Helene pretend not to notice the letters when they are clearly in plain sight?

5. Helene runs after Baldabiou at the train station and they embrace and she cries. What does this tell the reader about their relationship? Do you think something happened?

6. For the fourth trip to Japan, Baldabiou is unsure whether or not to send Joncour. What are his misgivings? When discussing it with Joncour, who is he trying to convince?

7. For the fourth trip to Japan, who makes the decision to go? Why is this startling? Why does Baldabiou lie to everyone except Helene about the trip?

8. What happens the morning after Hara Kei's party? Why do you think Hara Kei left? How does Joncour find the aviary? What is this saying to Joncour?

9. Why does the author describe the train trip so vividly returning from Japan on the fourth trip? What is the significance of the heat that Joncour sees on the fields and with the other passengers? What is he watching happening?

10. What does Joncour know about the Englishman they meet at the Riviera at the baron's birthday party? What is he wearing? Why is he upset when he looks at his wife and the Englishman?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

In the author's description of the trip from France to Japan, he describes it exactly the same except for the description of Lake Baikal. Each time Joncour travels past the lake, the locals are calling the lake by a different name. Why is this significant? What does this symbolize? Why would this be the only point where the author deviates from his description?

Essay Topic 2

Describe the significance of silk and when and where it is used in the story to identify or describe a character. Think about the colorful litter, the silk tunic given to Helene by her husband and the silk kimono worn by Madame Blanche.

Essay Topic 3

Joncour is a hero to his town, giving nearly all the town a way to make a living, and yet, he blindly pursues the mistress, knowing full well that he could lose everything for his town. Why does Joncour, in chapter after chapter, move toward his own destruction with little or no reservation to the damage he will do to his town or his wife? How can this man be so blind?

(see the answer keys)

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